Ursel L. Wade

Ursel Ladwig Wade of Monmouth IL, passed away after a long life on Monday, November 24, 2014.

Ursel was born on May 20, 1924 in Essen Germany, the daughter of Robert and Betty (Ruhr) Ladwig. Their father had been the an engineer at the Essen coal factory until his death. Her brother Karl was a Lutheran minister who had immigrated to Idaho and he had left Germany because of his out-spoken opinions against Hitler. He worked to get his entire family out of Germany. Sadly, their mother Betty and grandmother, Rosalie had stayed in Germany and died in the Allied bombing of Essen toward the end of WWII.

Ursel along with her older sister, Margot, refused to join the official Hitler Youth. Margot had left for England in 1938 just a year after their older sister Anneliese. Finally, Ursel at age 14, made it to England on the last train the night before Poland was invaded by Germany beginning WWII. She left alone on a train sponsored by the Quakers, who were helping children get out of Nazi Germany. Ursel was briefly detained as a possible German spy as she looked older than 14 but, was released from the London refugee camp to finish high school in England.

Margot and Ursel joined the British Womens Land Army (WLA) in 1942 and served until 1946. Recently, the ladies received their WLA badges from the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs. Both would have been delighted by the honor of the monument and badges. They lived in a hostel (dorms for Land Girls). They worked on many different farms around Milford and Gilford England planting and harvesting crops.

The WLA women worked hard to keep food on the table of English families by volunteering to do the hard farm work of the men who were off fighting the war. Western Illinois University's Malpass Library is digitizing the ladies' personal photos which depict the work and recreation of the WLA women. Her son David and his wife donated the photos and memorabilia this past year to WIU.

Ursel and her sister Margot Ladwig who passed away earlier this year on January 3rd , were just 2 of over 40,000 women of British Land Girls and Lumber Jills who were honored with a memorial by the British government on October 21, 2014. As part of the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire a life-size bronze statue depicting a Land Girl and Lumber Jill was dedicated in October to all the women who served in the Women's Land Army (WLA) during both World Wars.

More info on the WLA: http://www.womenslandarmytribute.co.uk/

After the war Ursel and her sister immigrated to America and became United States citizens. Her Aunt Greta survived the war and remained in Germany until her death. Her other Aunt Ella took advantage of Germany's offer of a pension and flat and went back after the war staying in Germany the rest of her life. Ursel went to work on a farm in Little York, IL that was owned by Karl's father-in-law.

Later she fell in love with and married Gene David Wade October 1, 1954. Ursel and Gene had created D & U Enterprises which operated several businesses in Monmouth, IL. D & U continued after Gene's death as Ursel began working with her son, David. From 1967 through 1972 Ursel and Gene owned and operated Western Stoneware with Margot and other family members working in the pottery. Her son David, earlier this year, acquired the family business again and Western Stoneware is still operated from Monmouth.

She was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Monmouth where she assisted the church secretary for a few years along with providing numerous crocheted items for the Lutheran Social Services. She also served as an election judge for many years.

Survivors include her son, David ( Linda) Wade of Monmouth; sister in law, Ruth Wade of Monmouth and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, infant son, Robert Wade; sisters, Margot Ladwig, Annlysia Lowit ; brother, Karl Ladwig; and many of her special pet companions, especially her dog Jerry.

Per her request, cremation rights will be accorded with burial to be in the Warren County Memorial Park Cemetery with no services planned. McGuire and Davies Funeral Home and crematory in Monmouth is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be given to the Warren County Animal Rescue.